This is Part 2 of our discussion on changes to the personal American Express card sign-up bonuses. The main article is here.
This article was updated on 16th April to reflect changes in some sign-up bonus levels.
Despite these massive changes, the good news is that it is still possible for a couple, starting from scratch with American Express, to earn 130,000 Avios fairly quickly between them.
For most Head for Points readers who are NOT starting from scratch with American Express, you are where you are. Your activity with American Express over the past 24 months will determine what you can do going forward. There is nothing you can do to change it.
Even if you cancel all of your existing American Express cards today, you will need to wait 24 months before you can start on the strategies below.
The only exception is if you qualify for an American Express Gold Business or American Express Platinum Business card. You would be able to apply for those after a gap of just six months from when you cancelled your previous American Express Membership Rewards-earning card.
If you run a small business, there is still flexibility to earn regular sign-up bonuses by focusing on Gold Business and Platinum Business.
If I have not had a personal American Express card before, what should I do?
If you have not held a personal American Express card in the previous two years, you now need to use some strategic thinking.
(Note that MBNA and Lloyds Bank-issued American Express cards do not count in terms of ‘have you had an Amex?’. We are only discussing cards issued directly by American Express.)
As far as I can work it out, here are three strategies which will allow you to earn more than one bonus on a personal American Express within a 24 month period.
Strategy One:
First card: anything except a British Airways or British Airways Premium Plus – I recommend Preferred Rewards Gold (10,000 Membership Rewards points) but you could also get The Platinum Card (30,000 Membership Rewards points), Starwood Preferred Guest (30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points), Nectar (20,000 Nectar points), American Express Rewards (up to 10,000 Membership Rewards points), Platinum Cashback or Platinum Cashback Everyday
Second card: the British Airways Premium Plus card (25,000 Avios) – because the only restriction on getting this is if you have held either of the two British Airways American Express cards in the previous 24 months
The reason for the order here is that if you got British Airways Premium Plus first then you would block yourself from all of the cards in the first list, except for The Platinum Card.
Strategy Two:
First card: anything except a card earning Membership Rewards points – you are allowed a British Airways American Express, British Airways American Express Premium Plus, Starwood Preferred Guest, Nectar, Platinum Cashback or Platinum Cashback Everyday
Second card: The Platinum Card (30,000 Membership Rewards points) – because the only restriction on getting this is if you have held another Membership Rewards-earning card (Preferred Rewards Gold, American Express Rewards, Green) in the previous 24 months
The reason for the order here is that if you got The Platinum Card first you would block yourself from the cards in list one (apart from British Airways Premium Plus).
Strategy Three:
This is the ONLY way to get three cards with sign-up bonuses quickly:
First card: Starwood Preferred Guest (30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) or Nectar (20,000 Nectar points) or Platinum Cashback or Platinum Cashback Everyday
Second and third cards (order unimportant): The Platinum Card (30,000 Membership Rewards points) – because because the only restriction on getting this is if you have held another Membership Rewards-earning card (Preferred Rewards Gold, American Express Rewards, Green) in the previous 24 months and the British Airways Premium Plus card (25,000 Avios) – because the only restriction on getting this is if you have held either British Airways American Express card in the previous 24 months
The reason for the order here is that as soon as you get The Platinum Card or the British Airways Premium Plus card, you block yourself from all of the bonuses in the first list.
Different strategies apply if you qualify for Gold Business or Platinum Business as they can still be cancelled and reopened every six months.
Strategy Three is the most valuable option
Under the new rules, if you had not previously had a personal American Express card, you can get virtually back-to-back:
30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points from the Starwood American Express or 20,000 Nectar points
plus
30,000 Membership Rewards points from The Platinum Card
plus
25,000 Avios from the British Airways Premium Plus card
If you converted the 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points into 10,000 Avios and the 30,000 Membership Rewards points into 30,000 Avios, you would have earned 65,000 Avios fairly quickly from sign-up bonuses.
Don’t forget your partner in all of this
Even if YOU no longer qualify for bonuses in the medium term, think about your partner. What has he/she had and what does he/she still qualify for?
You can double up on the bonuses above.
Even with the strict new rules, a couple (where neither has had a personal American Express card in the previous 24 months) could earn 130,000 Avios between them fairly quickly if each follows Strategy Three above.
Reference information
Here are links to our reviews on each of the cards, a link to the application website and the legally required interest rate information:
IMPORTANT: Note that the reviews have not been updated with the new bonus rules yet
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold – apply here – our review is here – representative APR 57.6% variable including the annual fee (free in year 1) based on a notional £1,200 credit limit
American Express Rewards – apply here – our Amex Rewards review – interest rate varies depending on which card variant you choose
British Airways American Express – apply here – our BA Amex review – representative APR 22.9% variable
British Airways American Express Premium Plus – apply here – our BA Premium Plus Amex review – representative APR 76.0% variable including £195 fee based on a notional £1200 credit limit, interest rate on purchases 22.9% variable
Nectar – apply here – our Nectar Amex review – representative APR of 28.2%, including £25 fee, based on a notional credit limit of £1,200
The Platinum Card – apply here – our Amex Platinum review
Platinum Cashback – apply here – our Amex Platinum Cashback review – representative APR of 28.2%, including £25 fee, based on a notional credit limit of £1,200
Platinum Cashback Everyday – apply here – our Amex Platinum Cashback Everyday review – representative APR 22.9% variable
Starwood Preferred Guest American Express – apply here – our Starwood Amex review – representative APR 39.7% variable including fee based on a notional £1200 credit limit
American Express Gold Business – apply here – our Amex Gold Business review
American Express Platinum Business – apply here – our Amex Platinum Business review
(Want to earn more miles and points from credit cards? Click here to visit our dedicated airline and hotel travel credit cards page or use the ‘Credit Cards Update’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)
OT but no bits – things were a bit mad yesterday so I thought I’d keep it for today. Flying Star Al out of T2 today – any recommendations for best lounge? Flying J, have platinum and PP. Thanks all!
United by a long distance but that means the 15 minute walk through the tunnel to 2B.
He might be flying from 2B!
Thanks both – will go for United.
OT – Is American Express The Vacation Collection and Crafted Journeys a new platinum benefit? Never heard of them before
Hello guys. Going for Amex Rewards Gold. 2 questions please.
1) How long does the lounge passes take to arrive from when you first sign up?
2) Can you balance transfer an amount from Gold to another provider say Halifax Credit Card?
1) I think a week or so from memory
2) My partner has done to Barclaycard no problem
Tesco credit card won’t accept transfers from Amex.
And if you transfer to Hsbc card put 00 in front of Amex account number.
Unless I’m missing something, it’s not clear if you can have the two cards (Strategy 1) at the same time or if they have to be sequential (close one, open next). Please could you clarify? Thanks!
You can have them both at the same time if you wish. No issues
Thanks Jay!
Does a referee still get points for a new applicant or has that also changed,
We think they do.
I just got my basic American Express card activated yesterday, in regards to the last option if I quickly just apply for the other two cards I will still get a bonus or what is the best option to do I I am currently 19 🙂
One more question Are avois points transferable if I refer my mum and she get the bonus points can she send them to me and if so how much is the fee and any other information please
The fee makes it pointless.
Better to simply form a BA household account with your Mum so your Avios are pooled for free.